Customs clearance in Dubai

Where shipments actually get stuck

In our experience, very few delays happen at sea or in the air. They happen on paper — a missing certificate of origin, an HS code that does not match the goods, an invoice that does not agree with the packing list. Cargo then sits, and storage charges start running while someone chases a document.

We clear cargo ourselves rather than passing it to a third party, which means the person who booked your shipment is the person who sorts out the declaration. One file, one point of contact.

What we handle

• Import declarations — duty calculated and paid, cargo released
• Export declarations — including the documentation your buyer's broker will need
• Transit and re-export — goods passing through the UAE, or leaving a free zone
• HS code classification — checked against the goods, not guessed from the invoice
• Certificates of origin, legalisation and attestation
• Free zone documentation — JAFZA, DAFZA and the other zones

Duty, VAT and what it actually costs

The UAE applies a standard customs duty of 5% on most goods, calculated on the CIF value — the cost of the goods plus insurance and freight. Some categories are exempt and some attract higher rates. Goods moving into a free zone are treated differently again.

We work out the landed cost before the shipment moves, so the number you plan around is the number you pay. If a classification is genuinely arguable, we will say so rather than pick the convenient answer and hope.